Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter.
21 June 1019
Mont-Havre
Former’s Guild House
My dear cousin Amelia,
I confess that I am somewhat nonplussed.
Lord Astley, His Cumbrian Majesty’s new governor-general of Armorica, has arrived in Mont-Havre at last; and he informed me today that His Majesty wishes me to return to Yorke to be made a knight of the realm! He informed me solemnly that my efforts to inform Lord Doncaster regarding the activities M. Depillage and the likelihood of an uprising here in Mont-Havre were solely responsible for Admiral Austen’s timely arrival, and that I had the Crown’s most earnest thanks.
My first thought was, “What rubbish!”, though of course I didn’t say that out loud. Admiral Austen put paid to the whole thing in short order, certainly; but the Armorican people were preparing to put down the rebellion themselves, and in no uncertain terms. It would have taken longer, and there would have been more bloodshed, but the outcome was certain: the common folk of Armorica wish Armorica to remain, well, common.
And now His Majesty wants to put a Sir before my name? It’s too absurd.
I tried to demur, to decline altogether, in fact; but Lord Astley put a scroll before my nose. It said more or less what His Lordship had said, though in rather loftier words; but the loftier wording made clear that this was not simply a royal offering, but rather a royal command.
Lord Astley went on to explain that I am to be made an example: my loyalty to both the Crown and my chosen country are to be held up as praiseworthy and fully in accord with His Majesty’s wishes for the citizens of his realm of Armorica. What joy!
Moreover, His Lordship told me, I am expressly directed to bring my family, which I suppose is all very well; Amelie has been wishing to meet my mother, and she will be delighted to meet my Amelie and my daughters.
We will be arriving in Yorke in two months; and so I must ask a favor of you, dear cousin. This letter will be accompanied on the packet by another letter by another, directed to Grandmaster Netherington-Coates. This letter will urge him to, should he be so inclined (as I believe he is) to propose to my dear mama forthwith, so that we might celebrate the nuptials while Amelie and I are in Yorke.
Should he choose to do so, then, your role is to cut through any foolish objections my dear mama might have. Should she be dead set against the idea, very well; but if her objections amount to nothing but flummery and worries about society, tell her I will ask His Majesty to have a word with her when I see him. She and the grandmaster should do very well together, and I do so want her to be happy.
I am directing Grandmaster Netherington-Coates to seek your support—so that you will not be in doubt as to whether the offer has been made. And, yes, of course you may enlist your dear mama, should you think it wise, but I fancy the task shouldn’t require much beyond a few gentle words, firmly spoken; an assurance that there is plenty of time to have a dress made, and that I shall pay for it; and some really strong tea. It will be what she truly wants to do, after all.
I find I have said nothing of the state of affairs here in Mont-Havre.
In two words, then: M. Depillage’s constables are still being rounded up; we have found most of the loyal deputés from the Grand Parlement, though some few of them were very badly treated; and Lord Astley has dissolved the current parlement in favor of a new constitution and new elections.
Alas, I fear I shall be one of the members of the constitutional committee; but so shall the other members of the new Guild Council, so I must not repine.
I look forward to seeing you and introducing you to Amelie and my dear daughters!
Your bemused and nonplussed cousin,
Armand
P.S. Has anyone every declared themselves plussed, I wonder?
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Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash
Zymurgia House 